Cucumber variety nun 53031 cup

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of cucumber, NUN 53031 CUP.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP, alsoreferred to as “NUN 53031”, “NUN 53031 F1”, “NUN 53031 hybrid”, or“53031 CUP”. and parts thereof and seeds from which the variety can begrown. The invention further relates to vegetative reproductions of NUN53031 CUP, methods for in vitro tissue culture of NUN 53031 CUP explantsand also to phenotypic variants of NUN 53031 CUP. The invention furtherrelates to methods of producing fruits of NUN 53031 CUP or of phenotypicvariants of NUN 53031 CUP.

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greateryield, resistance to diseases, insects or other pests, tolerance to heatand drought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value,enhanced growth rate and improved fruit properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same genotype. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from aflower of a different genotype.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for (uniform) typeover many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci andproduce a uniform population of true breeding progeny of homozygousplants. A cross between two such homozygous plants of different linesproduces a uniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous formany gene loci. The extent of heterozygosity in the hybrid is a functionof the genetic distance between the parents. Conversely, a cross of twoplants each heterozygous at a number of loci produces a segregatingpopulation of hybrid plants that differ genetically and are not uniform.The resulting non-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines are developed byselfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new lines are evaluatedto determine which of those have commercial potential. One crop specieswhich has been subject to such breeding programs and is of particularvalue is the cucumber.

One crop species which has been subject to such breeding programs and isof particular value is the cucumber. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) isnaturally a diploid (2n=14) outcrossing species, although haploid,doubled-haploid (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,827), and triploid (see,e.g., Sarreb et al. (2002), Plant Cell Tissue, Organ Culture 71:231-235) types have been developed. The two main types of cucumber fruitgrown commercially today in the United States are fresh market (slicing)type and the processing (pickling) type. Varieties and productionmethods are typically adapted to the end use. Slicing cucumbers areoften longer, larger and have darker and thicker skin, whereaspickling/processing cucumbers have a shorter fruit, thinner skin withinterior flesh that make them more amenable to pickling. Seedlessvarieties are generally preferable for both fresh market and forpickling as developing and large seeds are not palatable.

Cucumber plants that set fruit parthenocarpically (without pollinationand fertilization) have more recently been available. These plantsproduce seedless fruit unless pollinated. Growth of parthenocarpicvarieties is beneficial in that setting of fruit on these cultivars doesnot produce an inhibiting effect on plant growth, unlike the case offertilized, seeded fruit. The seedless varieties are usually higheryielding and of higher quality due to the lack of seeds. However, growthof these plants requires isolation from seeded cucumbers to avoidpollination and subsequent seeded fruit.

Most of the cucumbers currently used which are processed to pickles andpickle products in the United States are seeded hybrid varieties. Hybridvarieties offer the advantages of easy combination of dominant andrecessive traits, such as disease resistance, from a set of inbredparents, as well as careful control of parentage. The production of F1hybrid cucumber seeds from a pollen parent bearing only male flowers hasbeen reported (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,949).

Many different cucumber cultivars have been produced, and cucumberbreeding efforts have been underway in many parts of the world (see e.g.U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,130). Some breeding objectives include varying thecolor, texture and flavor of the fruit Minimizing the occurrence ofbitterness in cucumbers is one such example. Other objectives includeoptimizing flesh thickness, solid content (% dry matter), and sugarcontent. Also, breeding programs have focused on developing plants withearlier fruit maturity, more restricted vine growth, improved diseaseresistance or tolerance, and improved adaptability to environmentalconditions.

Advances in biotechnology have also resulted in genetically engineeredcucumber plants with improved traits. For example, cucumbers resistantto CMV have been developed by expression of CMV protein coat genes (seee.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,128). Transgenic plants exhibiting, forexample, other viral resistance traits or high levels of superoxidedismutase have also been reported (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,152).

While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful cucumbervarieties with beneficial traits, there remains a great need in the artfor new varieties with further improved traits. Such plants wouldbenefit farmers and consumers alike by improving crop yields and/orquality. Some breeding objectives include varying the color, texture andflavor of the fruit, and absence of seeds. Other objectives includedisease or pest resistance, optimizing flesh thickness, yield,suitability to various climatic circumstances, solid content (% drymatter), and storage properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a seed of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUPis provided, wherein a representative sample of said seed has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______. The cucumber seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofcucumber seed. Therefore, seed of the invention may be defined asforming at least about 97% of the total seed, including at least about98%, 99% or more of the seed. The population of cucumber seed may beparticularly defined as being essentially free from other seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of cucumber plants according to the invention. Alsoencompassed are a plant grown from a seed of cucumber variety NUN 53031CUP and a plant part thereof.

In another aspect the invention provides for a hybrid variety of Cucumissativus called NUN 53031 CUP. The invention also provides for a seed ora plurality of seeds of the new variety, a plant produced from growingthe seed of the new variety NUN 53031 CUP, and a progeny of any ofthese. Especially, a progeny retaining all or all but one, two or threeof the “distinguishing characteristics” or all or all but one, two orthree of the “morphological and physiological characteristics” oressentially all physiological and morphological characteristics of NUN53031 CUP referred to herein, are encompassed herein as well as methodsfor producing these.

In one aspect, such progeny have all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP when grown under thesame environmental conditions. In another aspect such progeny have allor all but one, two or three the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 as cucumber variety NUN53031 CUP when measured under the same environmental conditions (i.e.evaluated at significance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% significance, whichcan also be expressed as a p value).

In another aspect a plant of the invention or said progeny plantshas/have 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more or all of the distinguishingcharacteristics: 1) average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) averagefruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom endtapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) averagenumber of nodes from cotyledon leaves to node bearing the firstpistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internode length in additionto 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more, or all of the other (average)characteristics as listed in Table 1 and/or 2. NUN 53031 CUP is apickling cucumber.

Further, a cucumber fruit produced on a plant grown from these seeds isprovided.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a plant having one, two orthree physiological and/or morphological characteristics which aredifferent from those of NUN 53031 CUP and which otherwise has all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP aslisted in Table 1 and/or 2, wherein a representative sample of seed ofvariety NUN 53031 CUP has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB______, is provided.

Further, a vegetatively propagated plant of variety NUN 53031 CUP, or apart thereof, is provided having all or all but one, two or three of themorphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP whengrown under the same environmental conditions.

Also a plant part derived from variety NUN 53031 CUP is provided,wherein said plant part is selected from the group consisting of: afruit, a harvested fruit, a part of a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf,pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stemor a part thereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, aseed, a part of a seed, seedcoat or another maternal tissue which ispart of a seed grown on NUN 53031 CUP, hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, astock, a rootstock, a pistil, an anther, and a flower or a part thereof.Fruits are particularly important plant parts. In yet another aspect, aseed of NUN 53031 CUP is provided. In still another aspect, a seedgrowing or grown on a plant of NUN 53031 CUP are provided.

DEFINITIONS

“Cucumber” refers herein to plants of the species Cucumis sativus.

“Cultivated cucumber” refers to plants of Cucumis sativus i.e.varieties, breeding lines or cultivars of the species C. sativus,cultivated by humans and having good agronomic characteristics;preferably such plants are not “wild plants”, i.e. plants whichgenerally have much poorer yields and poorer agronomic characteristicsthan cultivated plants and e.g. grow naturally in wild populations.“Wild plants” include for example ecotypes, PI (Plant Introduction)lines, landraces or wild accessions or wild relatives of a species.

“Pickling cucumber” refers to cucumbers suitable for processing bypickling in abrine, vinegar, marinade or other solution. Said processingincludes allowing the cucumbers to ferment for a period of time byimmersion in an acidic liquid or though lacto-fermentation. Pickledpickling cucumbers are also known as pickles or gherkins.

The terms “cucumber plant designated NUN 53031 CUP”, “NUN 09015”, “53031CUP” or “variety designated 53031 CUP” are used interchangeably hereinand refer to a cucumber plant of variety NUN 53031 CUP, representativeseed of which having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______.

A “seed of NUN 53031 CUP” refers to an F1 hybrid seed represented by thedeposit with Accession Number NCIMB ______. It contains an embryo of NUN53031 CUP, or a “F1 hybrid embryo”. When said seed is planted, it growsinto a plant of NUN 53031 CUP.

A “seed grown on NUN 53031 CUP” refers to a seed grown on a mature plantof NUN 53031 CUP or inside a fruit of NUN 53031 CUP. The “seed grown onNUN 53031 CUP” contains tissues and DNA of the maternal parent, NUN53031 CUP. The “seed grown on NUN 53031 CUP” contains an F2 embryo. Whensaid seed is planted, it grows into a first generation progeny plant ofNUN 53031 CUP.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes the whole plant or any partsor derivatives thereof, preferably having the same genetic makeup as theplant from which it is obtained, such as plant organs (e.g. harvested ornon-harvested fruits), plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissuecultures or tissue cultures from which whole plants can be regenerated,plant calli, plant cell clumps, plant transplants, seedlings, hypocotyl,cotyledon, plant cells that are intact in plants, plant clones ormicropropagations, or parts of plants (e.g. harvested tissues ororgans), such as plant cuttings, vegetative propagations, embryos,pollen, ovules, fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds, clonally propagatedplants, roots, stems, vines, root tips, grafts, scions, rootstocks,parts of any of these and the like. Also any developmental stage isincluded, such as seedlings, cuttings prior or after rooting, matureplants or leaves.

“Tissue culture” refers to a composition comprising isolated cells ofthe same or a different type or a collection of such cells organizedinto parts of a plant. Tissue culture of various tissues of cucumber andregeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published(see, e.g., Sang-Gu et al. (1988), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture12: 67-74; Colijn-Hooymans (1994), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture39: 211-217). Similarly, the skilled person is well-aware how to preparea “cell culture”.

“REFERENCE VARIETY” refers to the variety Gershwin from company RijkZwaan, which has been planted in a trial together with NUN 53031 CUP.USDA descriptors of NUN 53031 CUP were compared to the USDA descriptorsof REFERENCE VARIETY.

“UPOV descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described forcucumber in the “Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness,Uniformity and Stability, TG/61/7 (Geneva 2007, last revised 2016), aspublished by UPOV (International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties and Plants, available on the world wide web at upov.int) andwhich can be downloaded from the world wide web at upov.int/underedocs/tgdocs/en/tg061.pdf and is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

“USDA descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors for (Cucumissativus) in the form titled “OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY—Cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)” as published by the US Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Marketing Service, Plant Variety Protection Office,Beltsville, Md. 20705 and which can be downloaded from the world wideweb at ams usda.gov/under sites/default/files/media/93-Cucumber.pdf.

“RHS” refers to the Royal Horticultural Society of England whichpublishes an official botanical color chart quantitatively identifyingcolors according to a defined numbering system. The chart may bepurchased from Royal Horticulture Society Enterprise Ltd RHS Garden;Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK, e.g., the RHS colour chart: 2007(The Royal Horticultural Society, charity No: 222879, PO Box 313 LondonSW1P2PE.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes the whole plant or any part orderivative thereof, preferably having the same genetic makeup as theplant from which it is obtained, such as a plant organ (e.g. harvestedor non-harvested fruits), a plant cell, a plant protoplast, a plant celltissue culture or a tissue culture from which a whole plant can beregenerated, a plant cell that is intact in a plant, a clone, amicropropagation, plant callus, a plant cell clump, a plant transplant,a vegetative propagation, a seedling, or parts of a plant (e.g.harvested tissues or organs), such as a fruit, a harvested fruit, a partof a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, an ambryo, apetiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root ora part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed,seedcoat or another maternal tissue which is part of a seed grown on NUN53031 CUP, hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a graft, a stock, a rootstock,a pistil, an anther, and a flower or a part, parts of any of these andthe like. Also any developmental stage is included, such as seedlings,cuttings prior or after rooting, mature plants or leaves. Alternatively,a plant part may also include a plant seed which comprises one or twosets of chromosomes derived from the parent plant.

“Harvested plant material” refers herein to plant parts (e.g. fruitsdetached from the whole plant) which have been collected for furtherstorage and/or further use.

“Harvested seeds” refers to seeds harvested from a line or variety, e.g.produced after self-fertilization or cross-fertilization and collected.

“Internode” refers to a portion of a plant stem between nodes.

“Node” refers to the place on a plant stem where a leaf is attached.

“Rootstock” or “stock” refers to the plant selected for its roots, inparticular for the resistance of the roots to diseases or stress (e.g.heat, cold, salinity etc.). Normally the quality of the fruit of theplant providing the rootstock is less important.

“Scion” refers to a part of the plant that is attached to the rootstock.This plant is selected for its stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. Thescion contains the desired genes to be duplicated in future productionby the stock/scion plant and may produce the desired cucumber fruit.

“Stock/scion” plant refers to a cucumber plant comprising a rootstockfrom one plant grafted to a scion from another plant.

“Grafting” refers to attaching tissue from one plant to another plant sothat the vascular tissues of the two tissues join together. Grafting maybe done using methods known in the art like: Tongue Approach/ApproachGraft, 2) Hole insertion/Terminal/Top Insertion Graft, 3) OneCotyledon/Slant/Splice/Tube Graft and 4) Cleft/Side Insertion Graft.

A plant having “all the physiological and morphological characteristics”of a referred-to-plant means a plant having the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the referred-to-plant when grown underthe same environmental conditions, preferably in the same experiment;the referred-to-plant can be a plant from which it was derived, e.g. theprogenitor plant, the parent, the recurrent parent, the plant used fortissue- or cell culture, etc. A physiological or morphologicalcharacteristic can be a numerical characteristic or a non-numericalcharacteristic. In one aspect, a plant has “all but one, two or three ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics” of areferred-to-plant, or “all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics” of Table 1 and/or 2 or “all or all but one, two orthree of the physiological and morphological characteristics” of Table 1and/or 2.

For NUN 53031 CUP the distinguishing characteristics are: 1) averagefruit length at edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at ediblematurity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaflength; 5) average leaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledonleaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average mainstem internode length.

In certain embodiments the plant of the invention has all thephysiological and morphological characteristics, except for certaincharacteristics mentioned, e.g. the characteristic(s) derived from aconverted or introduced gene or trait and/or except for thecharacteristics which differ, for example a Single Locus Conversion.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a Single Locus Convertedplant of NUN 53031 CUP.

Similarity between different plants is defined as the number ofmorphological and/or physiological characteristics (or thecharacteristics as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 that are the same betweenthe two plants that are compared when grown under the same environmentalconditions. Numerical characteristics are considered “the same” when thevalue for a numeric characteristic is evaluated at significance levelsof 1%, 5% or 10% significance level, or at p≦0.05 using one way Analysisof variance (ANOVA), a standard methods known to the skilled person.Non-numerical or “type” characteristic are considered “the same” ifidentical or having the same value when scored for USDA and/or UPOVdescriptors, if the plants are grown under the same conditions.

“Distinguishing characteristics” or “distinguishing morphological and/orphysiological characteristics” refers herein the characteristics whichare distinguishing between NUN 53031 CUP and other cucumber varieties,such as REFERENCE VARIETY, when grown under the same environmentalconditions, especially the following characteristics: 1) average fruitlength at edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at edible maturity;3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaf length; 5)average leaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledon leaves tonode bearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average main steminternode length. In one aspect, the distinguishing characteristicsfurther include at least one, two, three or more (or all) of thecharacteristics listed in Table 1 and/or 2. All numerical distinguishingcharacteristics are statistically significantly different at p≦0.05.

Thus, a cucumber plant “comprising the distinguishing characteristics of“NUN 53031 CUP” refers herein to a cucumber plant which does not differsignificantly from NUN 53031 CUP in characteristics 1) to 4) above. In afurther aspect the cucumber plant further does not differ significantlyfrom NUN 53031 CUP in one or more, or all characteristics 5) to 7) asmentioned above. In yet a further aspect the cucumber plant further doesnot differ in all or all but one, two, three, four, five or sixcharacteristics listed in Table 1 and/or 2. In still another aspect thecucumber plant does not differ in any of the distinguishingcharacteristics 1) to 7) listed above.

The physiological and/or morphological characteristics mentioned aboveare commonly evaluated at significance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% orevaluated at p≦0.05 using ANOVA, when measured under the sameenvironmental conditions. For example, a progeny plant of NUN 53031 CUPmay have one or more (or all) of the essential physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP listed in Table 1 and/or2, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

As used herein, the term “variety”, “cultivated cucumber” or “cultivar”means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowestknown rank, which grouping, irrespective of whether the conditions forthe grant of a breeder's right are fully met, can be defined by theexpression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype orcombination of genotypes, distinguished from any other plant grouping bythe expression of at least one of the said characteristics andconsidered as a unit with regard to its suitability for being propagatedunchanged.

“Plant line” is for example a breeding line which can be used to developone or more varieties. Progeny obtained by selfing a plant line has thesame phenotype as its parents.

“Hybrid variety” or “F1 hybrid” refers to the seeds harvested fromcrossing two inbred (nearly homozygous) parental lines. For example, thefemale parent is pollinated with pollen of the male parent to producehybrid (F1) seeds on the female parent.

“Regeneration” refers to the development of a plant from cell culture ortissue culture or vegetative propagation.

“Vegetative propagation”, “vegetative reproduction” or “clonalpropagation” are used interchangeably herein and mean the method oftaking part of a plant and allowing that plant part to form at leastroots where plant part is, e.g., defined as or derived from (e.g. bycutting of) a fruit, a harvested fruit, a part of a fruit, a leaf, apart of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a partthereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip,a cutting, a seed, hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock,a pistil, an anther, and a flower or a part thereof, etc. When a wholeplant is regenerated by vegetative propagation, it is also referred toas a vegetative propagation.

“Selfing” refers to self-pollination of a plant, i.e., the transfer ofpollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

“Crossing” refers to the mating of two parent plants. The termencompasses “cross-pollination” and “selfing”.

“Cross-pollination” refers to the fertilization by the union of twogametes from different plants.

“Planting” or “planted” refers to seeding (direct sowing) ortransplanting seedlings (plantlets) into a field by machine or hand.

“Yield” means the total weight of all cucumber fruits harvested perhectare of a particular line or variety. It is understood that “yield”expressed as weight of all cucumber fruits harvested per hectare can beobtained by multiplying the number of plants per hectare times the“yield per plant”.

“Marketable yield” means the total weight of all marketable cucumberfruits, especially fruit that is not cracked, damaged or diseased,harvested per hectare of a particular line or variety.

Refractometer % of soluble solids is the percentage of soluble solids infruit juice, as defined by the USDA. It is also expressed as ° Brix andindicates sweetness. The majority of soluble solids in cucumber aremainly sugars present in the fruits of cucumber. Hence the correlationwith sweetness. Brix can be measured using a Brix meter (also known asRefractometer).

As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are usedinterchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms orsignificantly reduced symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen,abiotic influence or environmental condition. These terms are also usedto describe plants showing some symptoms but that are still able toproduce marketable product with an acceptable yield.

“Locus” (plural loci) refers to the specific location, place or site ofa DNA sequence on a chromosome, where, for example, a gene or geneticmarker is found. A locus may confer a specific trait.

“Allele” refers to one or more alternative forms of a gene locus. All ofthese loci relate to one trait. Sometimes, different alleles can resultin different observable phenotypic traits, such as differentpigmentation. However, many variations at the genetic level result inlittle or no observable variation. If a multicellular organism has twosets of chromosomes, i.e. diploid, these chromosomes are referred to ashomologous chromosomes. Diploid organisms have one copy of each gene(and therefore one allele) on each chromosome. If both alleles are thesame, they are homozygotes. If the alleles are different, they areheterozygotes.

“Genotype” refers to the genetic composition of a cell or organism.

“Phenotype” refers to the detectable characteristics of a plant, cell ororganism, which characteristics are the manifestation of geneexpression.

Haploid” refers to a cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

“Diploid” refers to a cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

“Harvest maturity” is referred to as the stage at which a cucumber fruitis ripe or ready for harvest or the optimal time to harvest the fruit.In one embodiment, harvest maturity is the stage which allows propercompletion of the normal ripening.

“Flavor” (or flavour) refers to the sensory impression of a food orother substance, especially a cucumber fruit or fruit part (fruit flesh)and is determined mainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell.Flavor is influenced by texture properties and by volatile and/ornon-volatile chemical components (organic acids, lipids, carbohydrates,salts etc.).

“Aroma” refers to smell (or odor) characteristics of cucumber fruits orfruit parts (fruit flesh).

The term “traditional breeding techniques” encompasses herein crossing,selfing, selection, double haploid production, embryo rescue, protoplastfusion, marker assisted selection, mutation breeding etc. as known tothe breeder (i.e. methods other than geneticmodification/transformation/transgenic methods), by which, for example,a genetically heritable trait can be transferred from one cucumber lineor variety to another. It optionally includes epigenetic modifications.

“Backcrossing” is a traditional breeding technique used to introduce atrait into a plant line or variety. The plant containing the trait iscalled the donor plant and the plant into which the trait is transferredis called the recurrent parent. An initial cross is made between thedonor parent and the recurrent parent to produce a progeny plant.Progeny plants which have the trait are then crossed to the recurrentparent. After several generations of backcrossing and/or selfing therecurrent parent comprises the trait of the donor. The plant generatedin this way may be referred to as a “single trait converted plant”.

“Progeny” as used herein refers to a plant derived from a plantdesignated NUN 53031 CUP. A progeny may be derived by regeneration ofcell culture or tissue culture or parts of a plant designated NUN 53031CUP or selfing of a plant designated NUN 53031 CUP or by producing seedsof a plant designated NUN 53031 CUP. In further embodiments, progeny mayalso encompass plants derived from crossing of at least one plantdesignated NUN 53031 CUP with another cucumber plant of the same oranother variety or (breeding) line, or wild cucumber plants,backcrossing, inserting of a locus into a plant or mutation. A progenyis, e.g., a first generation progeny, i.e. the progeny is directlyderived from, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from theparent plant by, e.g., traditional breeding methods (selfing and/orcrossing) or regeneration. However, the term “progeny” generallyencompasses further generations such as second, third, fourth, fifth,sixth, seventh or more generations, i.e., generations of plants whichare derived from, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from theformer generation by, e.g., traditional breeding methods, regenerationor genetic transformation techniques. For example, a second generationprogeny can be produced from a first generation progeny by any of themethods mentioned above.

The terms “gene converted” or “conversion plant” in this context referto cucumber plants which are developed by backcrossing whereinessentially all of the desired morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of parent are recovered in addition to the one or moregenes transferred into the parent via the backcrossing technique or viagenetic engineering. Likewise a “Single Locus Converted (Conversion)Plant” refers to plants which are developed by plant breeding techniquescomprising or consisting of backcrossing, wherein essentially all of thedesired morphological and physiological characteristics of a cucumbervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus having been transferred into the variety via the backcrossingtechnique and/or by genetic transformation.

“Transgene” or “chimeric gene” refers to a genetic locus comprising aDNA sequence which has been introduced into the genome of a cucumberplant by transformation. A plant comprising a transgene stablyintegrated into its genome is referred to as “transgenic plant”.

“Linkage” refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosometend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

“Haploid” refers to a cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid. “Diploid” refers to a cell or organism havingtwo sets of chromosomes. “Polyploid” refers to a cell or organism havingthree or more complete sets of chromosomes. “Triploid” refers to a cellor organism having three sets of chromosomes. Tetraploid” refers to acell or organism having four sets of chromosomes.

“Marker” refers to a readily detectable phenotype, preferably inheritedin codominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,a heritability of 1.

“Average” refers herein to the arithmetic mean.

“Substantially equivalent” refers to a characteristic that, whencompared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g.,p=0.05) from the mean.

The term “mean” refers to the arithmetic mean of several measurements.The skilled person understands that the appearance of a plant depends tosome extent on the growing conditions of said plant. Thus, the skilledperson will know typical growing conditions for cucumberes describedherein. The mean, if not indicated otherwise within this application,refers to the arithmetic mean of measurements on at least 10 different,randomly selected plants of a variety or line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a Cucumis sativus variety, referred toas NUN 53031 CUP, which—when compared to check variety REFERENCEVARIETY—has: 1) average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) averagefruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom endtapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) averagenumber of nodes from cotyledon leaves to node bearing the firstpistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internode length when grownunder the same conditions. Also encompassed by the present invention areprogeny plants having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphologicaland/physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP and methods ofproducing plants in accordance with the present invention.

A cucumber plant of NUN 53031 CUP differs from the most similarcomparison variety REFERENCE VARIETY in one or more characteristics(referred herein to as “distinguishing characteristics” or“distinguishing morphological and/or physiological characteristics” (oressential physiological and/or morphological characteristics) selectedfrom: 1) average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) average fruitweight at edible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered;4) average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) average number ofnodes from cotyledon leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower;and 7) average main stem internode length when grown under the sameconditions.

In yet another aspect, said cucumber variety NUN 53019 CUP may furtherexhibit at least one further trait selected from the group consisting ofa) average petiole diameter; b) average main stem diameter; c) averagetubercle density.

It is understood that “significant” differences refer to statisticallysignificant differences, when comparing the characteristic between twoplant lines or varieties when grown under the same conditions.Preferably at least about 10, 15, 20, 50 or more plants per line orvariety are grown under the same conditions (i.e. side by side) andcharacteristics are measured on at least about 10, 15, 20 or morerandomly selected plant or plant parts to obtain averages. Thus,physiological and morphological characteristics or traits are commonlyevaluated at a significance level of 1%, 5% or 10% or evaluated atp≦0.05 using ANOVA, when measured in plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a seed of the cucumbervariety designated NUN 53031 CUP wherein a representative sample ofseeds of said variety was deposited under the Budapest Treaty, withAccession number NCIMB ______.

In another aspect, the invention provides for a cucumber plant ofvariety NUN 53031 CUP, a representative sample of seed from said varietyhas been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, with Accession numberNCIMB ______.

A seed of NUN 53031 CUP is obtainable by crossing the male parent of NUN53031 CUP with the female parent of NUN 53031 CUP and harvesting theseeds produced on the female parent. The resultant NUN 53031 CUP seedscan be grown to produce NUN 53031 CUP plants. In one embodiment a seedor a plurality of seeds of NUN 53031 CUP are packaged into a containersof any size or type (e.g., bags, cartons, cans, etc.). The seed may bedisinfected, primed and/or treated with various compounds, such as seedcoatings or crop protection compounds.

Also provided is a plant of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP, or a fruitor other plant part thereof, produced from a seed, wherein arepresentative sample of said seeds has been deposited under theBudapest Treaty, with Accession Number NCIMB ______. Also included is acell culture or tissue culture produced from such a plant.

In one embodiment the invention provides a cucumber plant regeneratedfrom the tissue or cell culture of NUN 53031 CUP, wherein the plant hasall or all but one, two or three of of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP as listed in Table 1and/or 2 when determined at the 5% significance level or evaluated atp≦0.05 using ANOVA. In another embodiment, the invention provides acucumber plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of NUN 53031CUP, wherein the plant has all or all but one, two or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP whendetermined at the 5% significance level or evaluated at p≦0.05 usingANOVA.

A plants of NUN 53031 CUP can be produced by seeding directly in thesoil (e.g., field) or by germinating the seeds in controlled environmentconditions (e.g., greenhouses) and then transplanting the seedlings intothe field. For example, the seed can be sown into prepared seed bedswhere they will remain for the entire production of the crop.Alternatively, the cucumber seed may be planted through a black plasticmulch. The dark plastic will absorb heat from the sun, warming the soilearly. It will also help to conserve moisture during the growing season,controls weeds and makes harvesting easier and cleaner. Cucumber canalso be grown entirely in greenhouses. See for example: M Domis, APPapadopoulos (2002) Horticultural Reviews for cultivation, harvesting,handling and postharvest methods commonly used.

In other aspects, the invention provides for a fruit of cucumber varietyNUN 53031 CUP, or a plant part, such as pollen, flowers, shoots orcuttings of variety NUN 53031 CUP or parts thereof.

In one embodiment any plant of the invention comprises at least 3, 4, 5or more, e.g. 6, 7, 8, 9 or all of the following morphological and/orphysiological characteristics (i.e. distinguishing characteristics(average values; measured at harvest or market maturity, as indicated onthe USDA Objective description of variety—Cucumber (unless indicatedotherwise), when grown under the same environmental conditions): 1)average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight atedible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4)average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) average number of nodesfrom cotyledon leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower; and7) average main stem internode length.

In still another aspect the invention provides a method of producing acucumber plant, comprising crossing a plant of cucumber variety NUN53031 CUP with a second cucumber plant one or more times, and selectingprogeny from said crossing. In one embodiment of the invention, thefirst step in “crossing” comprises planting seeds of a first and asecond parent cucumber plant, often in proximity so that pollinationwill occur for example, mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively,pollen can be transferred manually. Where the plant is self-pollinated,pollination may occur without the need for direct human interventionother than plant cultivation.

In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of producing acucumber plant, comprising selfing a plant of cucumber variety NUN 53031CUP one or more times, and selecting progeny from said selfing.

In other aspects, the invention provides for a progeny of variety NUN53031 CUP such as progeny obtained by further breeding NUN 53031 CUP.Further breeding NUN 53031 CUP includes selfing NUN 53031 CUP one ormore times and/or cross-pollinating NUN 53031 CUP with another cucumberplant or variety one or more times. In particular, the inventionprovides for progeny that retain all the essential morphological andphysiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP or that retain one ormore of the distinguishing characteristics of the cucumber typedescribed further above and when grown under the same environmentalconditions. In another aspect, the invention provides for a vegetativereproduction of the variety and a plant having all but 1, 2, or 3 of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (e.g.as listed in Table 1 and/or 2).

The morphological and/or physiological differences between a plantaccording to the invention, i.e. NUN 53031 CUP or progeny thereof, or aplant having all but 1, 2, or 3 of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (as listed in Table 1 and/or 2); andanother known variety can easily be established by growing NUN 53031 CUPnext to the other variety (in the same field, under the sameenvironmental conditions), preferably in several locations which aresuitable for said cucumber cultivation, and measuring morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics of a number of plants (e.g., tocalculate an average value and to determine the variationrange/uniformity within the variety). For example, trials can be carriedout in Acampo CA, USA (N 38 degrees 07′261″/W 121 degrees 18′ 807″, USA,whereby various characteristics, for example maturity, days from seedingto harvest, plant habit, plant attitude, leaf shape, leaf color,blistering, numbers of flowers per leaf axil, number of calyx lobes,number of petals, fruit group, immature fruit color, mature fruit color,pungency, flavor, fruit glossiness, fruit size, fruit shape, averagenumber of fruits per plant, seed size, seed weight, anthocyanin level,disease resistance, insect resistance, can be measured and directlycompared for species of Cucumis.

The morphological and physiological characteristics (and thedistinguishing characteristics) of NUN 53031 CUP are provided in theExamples, in Table 1 and/or 2. Encompassed herein is also a plantderivable from NUN 53031 CUP (e.g. by selfings and/or crossing and/orbackcrossing with NUN 53031 CUP and/or progeny thereof) comprising allor all but one, two or three of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP listed in Table 1 and/or 2 asdetermined at the 5% significance level or evaluated at p≦0.05 usingANOVA when grown under the same environmental conditions and/orcomprising one or more (or all; or all except one, two or three) of thedistinguishing characteristics as determined at the 5% significancelevel when grown under the same environmental conditions.

Also at-harvest and/or post-harvest characteristics of fruits can becompared, such as cold storage holding quality, post-flesh firmness, andBrix can be measured using known methods. (Fruit) Flesh firmness can forexample be measured using a penetrometer, e.g. by inserting a probe intothe fruit flesh and determining the insertion force, or by othermethods. Fruit flesh firmness can for example be measured using a “FT327 Penetrometer”, available from QA Supplies LLC, 1185 Pineridge Road,Norfolk, Va. 23502.

The morphological and/or physiological characteristics may vary somewhatwith variation in the environment (such as temperature, light intensity,day length, humidity, soil, fertilizer use), which is why a comparisonunder the same environmental conditions is preferred. Colors can best bemeasured against The Munsell Book of Color (Munsell Color MacbethDivision of Kollmorgan Instruments Corporation) or using the RoyalHorticultural Society Chart (World Wide Web atrhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/RHS-colour-charts).

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides for a cucumber fruitof variety NUN 53031 CUP, or a part of said fruit. In anotherembodiment, the invention provides for a container comprising orconsisting of a plurality of harvested cucumber fruits or parts offruits of NUN 53031 CUP, or fruits of progeny thereof, or fruits of aderived variety.

In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides for a method ofproducing a new cucumber plant. The method comprises crossing a plant ofthe invention NUN 53031 CUP, or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (aslisted in Table 1 and/or 2), or a progeny plant thereof, either as maleor as female parent, with a second cucumber plant (or a wild relative ofcucumber) one or more times, and/or selfing a cucumber plant accordingto the invention i.e. NUN 53031 CUP, or a progeny plant thereof, one ormore times, and selecting progeny from said crossing and/or selfing. Thesecond cucumber plant may for example be a line or variety of thespecies C. sativus L., Cucumis hystrix, Cucumis ritchiei (syn.Dicaelospermum ritchiei) or Cucumis maderaspatana (syn. Mukiamaderaspatana).

Progeny are either the generation (seeds) produced from the first cross(F1) or selfing (S1), or any further generation produced by crossingand/or selfing (F2, F3, etc.) and/or backcrossing (BC1, BC2, etc.) oneor more selected plants of the F1 and/or S1 and/or BC1 generation (orplants of any further generation, e.g. the F2) with another cucumberplant (and/or with a wild relative of cucumber). Progeny may have allthe physiological and morphological characteristics of cucumber varietyNUN 53031 CUP when grown under the same environmental conditions and/orprogeny may have (be selected for having) one or more of thedistinguishing characteristics of cucumber of the invention. Usingcommon breeding methods such as backcrossing or recurrent selection, oneor more specific characteristics may be introduced into NUN 53031 CUP,to provide or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of themorphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (aslisted in Table 1 and/or 2).

The invention provides for methods of producing plants which retain allthe morphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP.The invention provides also for methods of producing a plant comprisingall but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2),but which are still genetically closely related to NUN 53031 CUP. Therelatedness can, for example be determined by fingerprinting techniques(e.g., making use of isozyme markers and/or molecular markers such asSNP markers, AFLP markers, microsatellites, minisatellites, RAPDmarkers, RFLP markers and others). A plant is “closely related” to NUN53031 CUP if its DNA fingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98%identical to the fingerprint of NUN 53031 CUP. In a preferred embodimentAFLP markers are used for DNA fingerprinting (Vos et al. 1995, NucleicAcid Research 23: 4407-4414). A closely related plant may have aJaccard's Similarity index of at least about 0.8, preferably at leastabout 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (Parvathaneni et al., J. Crop Sci.Biotech. 2011 (March) 14 (1): 39˜43). The invention also provides aplant and a variety obtained by these methods. Plants may be produced bycrossing and/or selfing, or alternatively, a plant may simply beidentified and selected amongst NUN 53031 CUP plants, or progenythereof, e.g. by identifying a variant within NUN 53031 CUP or progenythereof (e.g. produced by selfing) which variant differs from NUN 53031CUP in one, two or three of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics (e.g. in one, two or three distinguishingcharacteristics), e.g. those listed in Table 1 and/or 2 or others. Inone embodiment the invention provides a cucumber plant having aJaccard's Similarity index with NUN 53031 CUP of at least 0.8, e.g. atleast 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or even at least 0.99.

The present invention also provides a cucumber seed and a plant producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent cucumber plant witha second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first orsecond parent cucumber plants is a plant provided herein, such as fromvariety NUN 53031 CUP. In another embodiment of the invention, cucumberseed and plants produced by the process are first filial generation (F1)cucumber seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance withthe invention with another, distinct plant.

The present invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F1cucumber plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F1 cucumber plant and seedthereof.

WO2013182646 which is incorporated by reference, relates to anon-destructive method for analyzing maternal DNA of a seed. In thismethod the DNA is dislodged from the seed coat surface and can be usedto collect information on the genome of the maternal parent of the seed.This method for analyzing maternal DNA of a seed, comprises the steps ofcontacting a seed with a fluid to dislodge DNA from the seed coatsurface, and analyzing the DNA thus dislodged from the seed coat surfaceusing methods known in the art. The skilled person is thus able todetermine whether a seed has grown on a plant of NUN 53031 CUP (i.e. isprogeny of NUN 53031 CUP), because the seed coat is geneticallyidentical to NUN 53031 CUP. In one embodiment, the present inventionrelates to a seed coat comprising maternal tissue of NUN 53031 CUP. Inanother embodiment the invention relates to a cucumber seed comprising aseed coat that comprises maternal tissue from NUN 53031 CUP.

By crossing and/or selfing also (one or more) single traits may beintroduced into the variety of the invention i.e. NUN 53031 CUP (e.g.,using backcrossing breeding schemes), while retaining the remainingmorphological and physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP and/orwhile retaining one or more distinguishing characteristics. A singletrait converted plant may thereby be produced. For example, diseaseresistance genes may be introduced, genes responsible for one or morequality traits, yield, etc. Both single genes (dominant or recessive)and one or more QTLs (quantitative trait loci) may be transferred intoNUN 53031 CUP by breeding with NUN 53031 CUP.

Alternatively, a single trait converted plant or single locus convertedplant may be produced by the following steps

-   -   a. obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of NUN 53031 CUP;    -   b. genetically transforming or mutating said cells;    -   c. growing the cells into a plant; and    -   d. optionally selecting a plant that contains the desired single        locus conversion        The skilled person is familiar with various techniques for        genetically transforming a single locus in a plant cell, or        mutating said cells.

Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into a plantaccording to the invention, i.e. NUN 53031 CUP, progeny thereof or intoa plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (e.g. as listed in Table1). Resistance to one or more of the following diseases or pests ispreferably introduced into plants of the invention: Angular Leaf Spot(Pseudomonas lachrymans), Anthracnose (Race 1), Colletotrichumlagenaria), Anthracnose (Race 2), Bacterial Wilt (Erwiniatracheiphilus), Cucumber Scab (Gummosis) (Cladosporium cucumerinum),Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe chicoracearum), Alternaria LeafBlight (Alternaria cucumerina), Target Spot (Corynespora cassiicola),Cucumber Yellow Mottle Mosaic Virus (Cucumis Virus 1), Cucumber GreenMottle Mosaic Virus (Cucumis Virus 2), Cucumber Aucuba Mosaic Virus(Cucumis Virus 2A), Muskmelon Mosaic Virus, Watermelon Mosaic Virus,Papaya Ring Spot Virus, Zucchini Mosaic Virus, Cucumber Rust, Root Rot,Crown Blight, Verticillum Wilt, Sulphur Burn, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumberis (Fom) race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumberis (Fom) race1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumberis (Fom) race 2, Fusarium Wilt R2,Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, and Squash Mosaic.

Thus, invention also provides a method for developing a cucumber plantin a cucumber breeding program, using a cucumber plant of the invention,or its parts as a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plantbreeding techniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigreebreeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and/or genetic markerenhanced selection. For example, in one aspect, the method comprisescrossing NUN 53031 CUP or progeny thereof, or a plant comprising all but1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2),with a different cucumber plant, and wherein one or more offspring ofthe crossing are subject to one or more plant breeding techniquesselected from the group consisting of recurrent selection, backcrossing,pedigree breeding, mass selection, mutation breeding and genetic markerenhanced selection (see e.g. see e.g. Martin et al. 2008, AustralianJournal of Crop Science 1(2): 43-46). For breeding methods in generalsee Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, George Acquaah,Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4.

The invention also provides a cucumber plant comprising at least a firstset of the chromosomes of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP, a sample ofseed of said variety having been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB______; optionally further comprising a single locus conversion, whereinsaid plant has essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of cucumber NUN 53031 CUP. In another embodiment, thissingle locus conversion confers a trait selected from the groupconsisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance,modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.

In one embodiment, NUN 53031 CUP may also be mutated (by e.g.irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment, etc.) and mutatedseeds or plants may be selected in order to change one or morecharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP. Methods such as TILLING may be appliedto cucumber populations in order to identify mutants. Similarly, NUN53031 CUP may be transformed and regenerated, whereby one or morechimeric genes are introduced into the variety or into a plantcomprising all but 1, 2, 3, or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics (e.g. as listed in Table 1 and/or 2).Transformation can be carried out using standard methods, such asAgrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation or biolistics,followed by selection of the transformed cells and regeneration intoplants. A desired trait (e.g. genes conferring pest or diseaseresistance, herbicide, fungicide or insecticide tolerance, etc.) can beintroduced into NUN 53031 CUP, or progeny thereof, by transforming NUN53031 CUP or progeny thereof with a transgene that confers the desiredtrait, wherein the transformed plant retains all the phenotypic and/ormorphological and/or physiological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP orthe progeny thereof and contains the desired trait.

The invention also provides a plant having one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of NUN 53031 CUP and which otherwise has all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP,wherein a representative sample of seed of variety NUN 53031 CUP hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______. In particularvariants which differ from NUN 53031 CUP in none, one, two or three ofthe characteristics mentioned in Table 1 and/or 2 are encompassed.

In one aspect, the the plant having one, two or three physiologicaland/or morphological characteristics which are different from those ofNUN 53031 CUP and which otherwise has all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP differs from NUN 53031CUP in one, two or three of the distinguishing morphological and/orphysiological characteristics selected from: 1) average fruit length atedible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruittapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) averageleaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledon leaves to nodebearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internodelength.

In another embodiment the plant having one, two or three physiologicaland/or morphological characteristics which are different from those ofNUN 53031 CUP and which otherwise has all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP may differ from NUN 53031CUP in one, two or three morphological or physiological characteristicother than the “distinguishing morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics” (or essential physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics) of NUN 53031 CUP selected from: 1) average fruit lengthat edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruittapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) averageleaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledon leaves to nodebearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internodelength.

Cucumbers according to the invention, such as the variety NUN 53031 CUP,or its progeny, or a plant having all physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics but one, two or three which are different from those ofNUN 53031 CUP, can also be reproduced using vegetative reproductionmethods. Therefore, the invention provides for a method of producingplants, or a part thereof, of variety NUN 53031 CUP, comprisingvegetative propagation of variety NUN 53031 CUP. Vegetative propagationcomprises regenerating a whole plant from a plant part of variety NUN53031 CUP (or from its progeny or from or a plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP butone, two or three, which are different), such as a cutting, a cellculture or a tissue culture.

The invention also concerns methods of vegetatively propagating a plantof the invention. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the stepsof: (a) collecting tissue or cells capable of being propagated from aplant of the invention; (b) cultivating said tissue or cells to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots, to obtainrooted plantlets. Steps (b) and (c) may also be reversed, i.e. firstcultivating said tissue to obtain roots and then cultivating the tissueto obtain shoots, thereby obtaining rooted plantlets. The rootedplantlets may then be further grown, to obtain plants. In oneembodiment, the method further comprises step (d) growing plants fromsaid rooted plantlets.

The invention also provides for a vegetatively propagated plant ofvariety NUN 53031 CUP (or from its progeny or from or a plant having allbut one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristicsof NUN 53031 CUP, or a part thereof, having one or more distinguishingcharacteristics and/or all the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP (except for the characteristicsdiffering), when grown under the same environmental conditions.

A parts of NUN 53031 CUP (or of its progeny or of a plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or threewhich are different from those of NUN 53031 CUP) encompasses any cells,tissues, organs obtainable from the seedlings or plants, such as but notlimited to: a cucumber fruit or a part thereof, a cutting, hypocotyl,cotyledon, seedcoat, pollen and the like. Such parts can be storedand/or processed further. Encompassed are therefore also food or feedproducts comprising one or more of such parts, such as canned, chopped,cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted, puréed orconcentrated, juiced, frozen, dried, pickled, or powdered cucumber fruitfrom NUN 53031 CUP or from progeny thereof, or from a derived variety,such as a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP.

In one aspect a haploid plant and/or a double haploid plant of NUN 53031CUP, or a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of NUN 53031 CUP, or progeny of any ofthese, are encompassed herein. Haploid and double haploid (DH) plantscan, for example, be produced by cell or tissue culture and chromosomedoubling agents and regeneration into a whole plant. For DH productionchromosome doubling may be induced using known methods, such ascolchicine treatment or the like.

In yet another aspect haploid plants and/or double haploid plantsderived from NUN 53031 CUP that, when combined, make a set of parents ofNUN 53031 CUP are encompassed herein.

Using methods known in the art like “reverse breeding”, it is possibleto produce parental lines for a hybrid plant such as NUN 53031 CUP;where normally the hybrid is produced from the parental lines. Suchmethods are based on the segregation of individual alleles in the sporesproduced by a desired plant and/or in the progeny derived from theself-pollination of that desired plant, and on the subsequentidentification of suitable progeny plants in one generation, or in alimited number of inbred cycles. Such a method is known fromWO2014076249 or from Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014)DOI: doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049, which are enclosed by reference. Suchmethod for producing parental lines for a hybrid organism, comprises thesteps of: a) defining a set of genetic markers that are present in aheterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygous starting organism; b)producing doubled haploid lines from spores of the starting organism: c)genetically characterizing the doubled haploid lines thus obtained forthe said set of genetic markers to determine whether they are present ina first homozygous form (A) or in a second homozygous form (B); d)selecting at least one pair of doubled haploid lines that havecomplementary alleles for at least a subset of the genetic markers,wherein each member of the pair is suitable as a parental line for ahybrid organism.

Thus in one aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing acombination of parental lines of a plant of the invention (NUN 53031CUP) comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploidcells from the plant of the invention (NUN 53031 CUP) or a seed of thatplant; and optionally crossing these parental lines to produce andcollect seeds. In another aspect, the invention relates to a combinationof parental lines produced by this method. In still another aspect saidcombination of parental lines can be used to produce a seed or plant ofNUN 53031 CUP when these parental lines are crossed. In still anotheraspect, the invention relates to a combination of parental lines fromwhich a seed or plant having all physiological and/or of NUN 53031 CUPmorphological characteristics but one, two or three which are differentcan be produced or in another aspect, wherein a seed or plant having thedistinguishing characteristics 1)-4) or 1)-7) of NUN 53031 CUP, asherein defined, can be produced when grown under the same environmentalconditions. In still another aspect, the invention relates to acombination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having all thecharacteristics of NUN 53031 CUP as defined in Table 1 and/or 2 whengrown under the same conditions can be produced.

In another alternative aspect, the invention provides a method ofintroducing a single locus conversion or single trait conversion or adesired trait into NUN 53031 CUP comprising:

-   -   a. obtain a combination of a male and a female parental line of        NUN 53031 CUP,    -   b. introduce a single locus conversion in at least one of the        parents of step a;    -   c. crossing the converted parent with the other parent of step a        to obtain seed of NUN 53031 CUP        A combination of a male and a female parental line of NUN 53031        CUP can be generated by methods described herein, for example        through reverse breeding;

Step b) of the above method—introduce a single locus conversion in atleast one of the parents of step a—may be done through the followingmethod:

-   -   i. obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of the parental        line of NUN 53031 CUP;    -   ii. genetically transforming or mutating said cells;    -   iii. growing the cells into a plant; and    -   iv. optionally selecting plants that contain the single locus        conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait.

Step b) of the above method—introduce a single locus conversion in atleast one of the parents of step a—may also be done through thefollowing method:

-   -   i. crossing the parental line of NUN 53031 CUP with a second        cucumber plant comprising the single locus conversion, the        single trait conversion or the desired trait;    -   ii. selecting Flprogeny plants that contain the single locus        conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait;    -   iii. crossing said selected progeny plants of step ii with the        parental line of step i, to produce a backcross progeny plant;    -   iv. selecting backcross progeny plants comprising the single        locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired        trait and otherwise all or all but one, two or three of the        morphological and physiological characteristics the parental        line of step i to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and    -   v. optionally repeating steps iii and iv one or more times in        succession to produce selected second, third or fourth or higher        backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus conversion,        the single trait conversion or the desired trait and otherwise        all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and        physiological characteristics the parental line of step i to        produce selected backcross progeny plants, when grown in the        same environmental conditions.        The invention further relates to plants obtained by this method.

The above method is provided, wherein the single locus conversionconcerns a trait, wherein the trait is pest resistance or diseaseresistance.

In one embodiment the trait is disease resistance and the resistance isconferred to Angular Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas lachrymans), Anthracnose(Race 1), Colletotrichum lagenaria), Anthracnose (Race 2), BacterialWilt (Erwinia tracheiphilus), Cucumber Scab (Gummosis) (Cladosporiumcucumerinum), Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe chicoracearum),Alternaria Leaf Blight (Alternaria cucumerina), Target Spot (Corynesporacassiicola), Cucumber Yellow Mottle Mosaic Virus (Cucumis Virus 1),Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (Cucumis Virus 2), Cucumber AucubaMosaic Virus (Cucumis Virus 2A), Muskmelon Mosaic Virus, WatermelonMosaic Virus, Papaya Ring Spot Virus, Zucchini Mosaic Virus, CucumberRust, Root Rot, Crown Blight, Verticillum Wilt, Sulphur Burn, Fusariumoxysporum f.sp. cucumberis (Fom) race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumberis (Fom) race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumberis (Fom) race2, Fusarium Wilt R2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, and SquashMosaic.

Also provided are plant parts derived from variety NUN 53031 CUP (orfrom its progeny or from a plant having all but one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of NUN 53031 CUP, or from a vegetatively propagated plant ofNUN 53031 CUP (or from its progeny or from a plant having all but one,two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics whichare different from those of NUN 53031 CUP), being selected from thegroup consisting of a fruit, a harvested fruit, a part of a fruit, aleaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot ora part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root or a part thereof, aroot tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed, seedcoat or anothermaternal tissue which is part of a seed grown on NUN 53031 CUP,hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock, a pistil, ananther, and a flower or a part thereof.

In one embodiment, the invention provides for extracts of a plantdescribed herein and compositions comprising or consisting of suchextracts. In a preferred embodiment, the extract consists of orcomprises tissue of a plant described herein or is obtained from suchtissue.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of the invention comprising the stepof detecting in the genome (e.g., a sample of nucleic acids) of theplant at least a first polymorphism or an allele. The skilled person isfamiliar with many suitable methods of genotyping, detecting apolymorphism or detecting an allele including restriction fragmentlength polymorphism identification (RFLPI) of genomic DNA, randomamplified polymorphic detection (RAPD) of genomic DNA, amplifiedfragment length polymorphism detection (AFLPD), polymerase chainreaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO)probes, and hybridization to DNA microarrays or beads. Alternatively,the entire genome could be sequenced. The method may, in certainembodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms in thegenome of the plant, for example by obtaining a sample of nucleic acidfrom a plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms. The method may further comprise storing the results ofthe step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computerreadable medium.

The invention also provides for a food or feed product comprising orconsisting of a plant part described herein wherein the plant part canbe identified as a part of the plant of the invention. Preferably, theplant part is a cucumber fruit or part thereof and/or an extract from afruit or another plant part described herein. The food or feed productmay be fresh or processed, e.g., dried, grinded, powdered, pickled,chopped, cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted, puréed orconcentrated, juiced, pickled, canned, steamed, boiled, fried, blanchedand/or frozen, etc.

For example, containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons,Modified Atmosphere Packagings, films (e.g. biodegradable films), etc.comprising a plant or a parts of a plant (fresh and/or processed)described herein or a seed of NUN 53031 CUP are also provided herein.Marketable cucumber fruits are generally sorted by size and qualityafter harvest. Alternatively the cucumber fruits can be sorted byexpected shelf life, pH or Brix.

Cucumbers may also be grown for use in grafting or inosculation asrootstocks (stocks) or scions (cions). Typically, different types ofcucumbers are grafted to enhance disease resistance, which is usuallyconferred by the rootstock, while retaining the horticultural qualitiesusually conferred by the scion. It is not uncommon for grafting to occurbetween cultivated cucumber varieties and related Cucumis species.Methods of grafting and vegetative propagation are well-known in theart.

So in one aspect the invention relates to a plant comprising a rootstockor scion of NUN 53031 CUP.

All documents (e.g., patent publications) are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety.

CITED REFERENCES

-   Acquaah, Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, Blackwell    Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4-   Colijn-Hooymans (1994), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 39:    211-217-   http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3002687-   http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Publications/RHS-colour-charts-   http://www.upov.int/en/publications/tg-rom/tg061/tg_61_7.pdf-   Martin et al. 2008, Australian Journal of Crop Science 1(2): 43-46-   Pisanu et al. ISHS 2004, Acta Hort. 660-   Sang-Gu et al. (1988), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 12:    67-74-   Sarreb et al. (2002), Plant Cell Tissue, Organ Culture 71: 231-235-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,949-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,128-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,827-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,152-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,130-   WO2014076249-   Vos et al. 1995, Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414-   Nature Protocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI:    doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049

Examples Development of NUN 53031 CUP

The hybrid NUN 53031 CUP was developed from a male and femaleproprietary inbred line of Nunhems. The female and male parents werecrossed to produce hybrid (F1) seeds of NUN 53031 CUP The seeds of NUN53031 CUP can be grown to produce hybrid plants and parts thereof (e.g.cucumber fruit). The hybrid NUN 53031 CUP can be propagated by seeds orvegetative.

The hybrid variety is uniform and genetically stable. This has beenestablished through evaluation of horticultural characteristics. Severalhybrid seed production events resulted in no observable deviation ingenetic stability. Coupled with the confirmation of genetic stability ofthe female and male parents the Applicant concluded that NUN 53031 CUPis uniform and stable.

Deposit Information

A total of 2500 seeds of the hybrid variety NUN 53031 CUP were depositedaccording to the Budapest Treaty by Nunhems B.V. on 17 Sep. 2015, at orat the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn,Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB). The deposit has been assignedNCIMB number ______. A deposit of NUN 53031 CUP and of the male andfemale parent line is also maintained at Nunhems B.V. Access to thedeposit will be available during the pendency of this application topersons determined by the Director of the U.S. Patent Office to beentitled thereto upon request. Subject to 37 C.F.R. §1.808(b), allrestrictions imposed by the depositor on the availability to the publicof the deposited material will be irrevocably removed upon the grantingof the patent. The deposit will be maintained for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the enforceable life ofthe patent whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it ever becomesnonviable during that period. Applicant does not waive any rightsgranted under this patent on this application or under the Plant VarietyProtection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.).

The most similar variety to NUN 53031 CUP is referred to as REFERENCEVARIETY, a variety from Rijk Zwaan with the commercial name Gershwin. InTable 1 a comparison between NUN 53031 CUP and REFERENCE VARIETY isshown based on a trial in the USA. Trial location Thornton (CA),transplanting date: Jul. 6, 2016, harvesting date for NUN 53031 CUP:Aug. 29, 2016.

Two replications of 50 plants each, from which 15 plants or plant partswere randomly selected, were used to measure characteristics. In Table 1the USDA descriptors of NUN 53031 CUP (this application) and REFERENCEVARIETY (commercial variety) are listed.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP as presented in Table1.

TABLE 1 Objective description of varieties NUN 53031 CUP and REFERENCEVARIETY Application REFER- Variety ENCE NUN 53031 VARIETY USDAdescriptor CUP Gershwin 1. TYPE Predominate Usage (1 = slicing; 2 =pickling) 2 2 Predominate Culture (1 = outdoor; 2 = indoor) 1 1 Area ofbest adaptation (USA) (1 = north; 3 3 2 = south; 3 = most areas) 2.MATURITY Days From Seeding To Market 52 52 3. PLANT Habit (1 = bush; 2 =semi-bush; 3 = vine) 3 3 Growth (1 = determinate; 2 = indeterminate) 2 2Sex (1 = Andromonoecious, 4 4 2 = Monoecious, 3 = Primarily Gynoecious,4 = 100% Gynoecious Flower color (1 = yellow; 2 = orange; 1 1 3 = green;4 = other) Color Chart Value (RHS color chart) Yellow Yellow 12A 12A 4.MAIN STEM Length in cm 69.4 77.87 Number of nodes from cotyledon leaves2 1 to node brearing the first pistillate flower Intermode length in cm2.58 1.43 Stem form (1 = groved, ridged; 1 1 2 = smooth, round) 5.LEAF(Mature blade of 3^(rd) leaf) Length in mm 171.8 133.0 Width in mm177.4 139.0 Petiole length in cm 20.2 19.1 6. FRUIT AT EDIBLE MATURITYLength in cm 13.6 11.2 Diameter at medial in cm 4.71 4.53 Weight in g176.6 131.9 Skin color (1 = not mottled; 2 = mottled 2 2 or speckledwith yellow) Yellowish blossomed end stripes 3 3 (1 = absent; 2 = extendless than ⅓ of fruit length; 3 = extend more than ⅓ of fruit length)Predominant color at stem end 4 4 (1 = white; 2 = light green; 3 =medium green; 4 = dark green) Color Chart Value (RHS color chart) GreenGreen 136A 139A Predominant color at blossom 3 3 end (1 = white; 2 =light green; 3 = medium green; 4 = dark green) Color Chart Value (RHScolor chart) Yellow Yellow Green Green 144A 144A Fruit neck shape (1 =not necked; 2 = necked) 1 1 Fruit tapering 3 4 (1 = both ends tapered; 4= ends blunt or rounded) Stem end cross section 1 1 (1 = circular; 2 =triangular; 3 = square) Medial cross section (1 = circular; 1 1 2 =triangular; 3 = square) Blossom end cross section 1 1 (1 = circular; 2 =triangular; 3 = square) Skin Thickness (1 = thick; 2 = thin) 1 1 SkinRibs (1 = not ribbed; 2 = ribbed) 1 1 Skin toughness (1 = tough; 2 =tender) 1 1 Skin luster (1 = dull; 2 = glossy) 1 1 Spine color (1 =white; 2 = black) 1 1 Spine quality (1 = coarse; 2 = fine) 1 1 Spinedensity (1 = few; 2 = many) 1 1 Tubercles (warts) 1 1 (1 = few, obscure;2 = many, obscure; 3 = few, prominent; 4 = many, prominent) 7. FRUIT ATMATURE STAGE (harvest maturity) Fruit set (1 = parthenocarpically; 1 1 2= normally with seeds)

TABLE 2 REFERENCE Application Variety VARIETY Non-USDA descriptor NUN53031 CUP Gershwin RZ Main stem diameter in cm 7.94 8.95 Petiolediameter in mm 5.87 5.6 Tubercle density per 3 cm² 8.67 8.93

Table 1 and 2 contain typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention. N.A.=not applicable; n.r.=notrecorded.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant, plant part or seed of cucumber variety NUN 53031 CUP, wherein a representative sample of said seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______.
 2. The plant part of claim 1, further defined as a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a fruit, a scion, a rootstock, cutting, flower or a part of any of these or a cell.
 3. A seed grown on the plant of claim
 1. 4. A Cucumis sativus plant, or a part thereof which does not significantly differ from the plant of claim 2 in any of the distinguishing characteristics selected from the group consisting of: 1) average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledon leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internode length when grown under the same conditions.
 5. A cucumber plant, or a part thereof which does not significantly differ from the plant of claim 1 when grown under the same conditions.
 6. A tissue or cell culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 7. The tissue or cell culture according to claim 6, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, petiole, flower, fruit, seed, stem and stalks.
 8. A cucumber plant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of claim 6, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of NUN 53031 CUP, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB ______, as listed in Table 1 and/or 2 when determined at the 5% significance level.
 9. A method of producing of the plant of claim 1, or a part thereof, comprising vegetative propagation of the plant of claim
 1. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from a part of the plant of claim
 1. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said part is a cutting, a cell culture or a tissue culture.
 12. A vegetative propagated plant of claim 1, or a part thereof, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 1 when grown under the same conditions determined at the 5% significance level.
 13. A method of producing a cucumber plant, comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with a second cucumber plant one or more times, and selecting progeny from said crossing and optionally allowing the progeny to form seed.
 14. A progeny plant of the plant of claim 1 obtained by further breeding with said variety.
 15. The progeny plant of claim 14, wherein said progeny plant has all the distinguishing characteristics 1) to 4) or 1) to 7) of the cucumber plant of claim 1 when grown under the same environmental conditions wherein the distinguishing characteristics are defined as: 1) average fruit length at edible maturity; 2) average fruit weight at edible maturity; 3) Fruit tapering type 3—Blossom end tapered; 4) average leaf length; 5) average leaf width; 6) average number of nodes from cotyledon leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower; and 7) average main stem internode length.
 16. A cucumber plant having one, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics which are different from those of the plant of claim 1 and which otherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant of claim 1 as listed in Table 1 and/or 2, when grown under the same conditions determined at the 5% significance level.
 17. A food or feed product comprising the plant part of claim 2 wherein the plant part can be identified as a part of the plant of the invention.
 18. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of the plant of claim
 1. 19. The plant of claim 1 further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein said plant has all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant of claim 1 when grown under the same conditions, optionally wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 20. A plant comprising the scion or rootstock of claim
 2. 21. A method of producing a combination of parental lines of the plant of claim 1 comprising the step of making double haploid cells from haploid cells from the plant of claim 1 or a seed of claim
 1. 22. A combination of two inbred plants which when crossed produce a seed or plant of claim
 1. 23. A container comprising a plant, plant part or seed of claim
 1. 